Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Top made before holidays

Front of top



Back of top



Top lying flat




This is a top made just before leaving for holidays. I used top 126 from Burda 07/2008 as a starting point and added some changes. I really liked the back of the pattern. I love the blousy shape that is trendy now, but be careful - your fabric must be drapey if you don't want to look like you put on weight. I also loved how the pattern doesn't have any side seams. It is interesting and it also speeds up the sewing.

First of all, I downsized to 34. I've used an insert in Burda magazine to do it, but there's also this tip on PR that I use a lot.

I knew I wanted a really sexy top to wear for salsa dancing and for hot holidays nights out. I made this top in a hurry to have it for holidays (it was made at the end of July) so I didn't have the time to take any photos, but I tried to show you on the pattern technical drawing what I did.



The red lines are the new design lines. The front and back band are cut away from the pattern. I used black cotton-lycra for the band and I interfaced them with soft knit interfacing. You must interface them, otherwise you risk a drooping neckline. And you don't want that, do you?

The back is cut to have a deep cleavage, showing your nude back. You cannot wear a bra with this - well, actually you could wear a very interesting bra that you feel like showing, if you want. The design is quite blousy so I don't think it works for insertion of bra cups. My fabric is drapey but quite thick so I can wear the top without a bra and I'm still totally decent. And after all, you can always purchase those little silicone patches that cover your nipples if your fabric is too revealing.

The center back seam is pivoted to make a cowl.

The green lines on the front show you where I cut and spread the pattern, to have little gathers that go in the neckline. I only spread my cuts about 1 cm away (approx 3/8'), I could have spread them a bit more, but as I told you I was in a hurry and didn't have time to experiment.

The back is gathered around the square insert (part of it shows in the left corner of the drawing - the dotted black lines show the gathering), that I also cut from black viscose lycra. That is from the original Burda design and it is a detail that I like very much.

Even if it's quite a particular top, I think I will sew it again, probably in a solid. I wore it to death during holidays and salsa parties and I got tons of compliments over it. While away on holidays, a girl wanted to buy it off my back and offered me 100 Euros for that. I took it as a compliment but kept the top :)

See this older post for sewing with knit tips.

30 comments:

Anne-Marie said...

Oh la la ! What a top. You have the body and the youth to wear it. Superb on you Laura. For the bra, at 40, I would buy those instant sticking bra that are so handy for woman with small breast.

LauraLo said...

Dear Anne,
Indeed those instant sticking bras are a solution! But there are some risks, I wore one while dancing a lot and it got loose (too much heat), I had to stop from dancing because I had a third boob on my tummy (the bra slipped) :))

Jenna said...

So glad that you are back!! I hope you had great vacation!! I love the top it is great and that painted handbag where did you find it? I would love to have one
Have a great day!!

senaSews said...

I'm glad you're back from holidays. You're such a sewing inspiration. This top is awesome, so much better than the original one. great work!

Bonnie O. said...

What a hottie! You look spectacular, Laura! (I would have sold it and made another. LOL)

Erica Bunker said...

What a fabulous top! I love that!

KayB said...

Oh wow,wow,wow... what more to say. Love the pattern of the fabric and what you did with the pattern of the top itself. It looks great and it looks great on you, too!
I'm glad that you're back - looking forward to all your projects.

Marjie said...

I'd have sold that top and made another, too, given your talents! It is beautiful. Ah, to be young and thin enough to wear such a top again, braless...the instant sticking ones never worked for me!

That painted handbag matches your cat very well. You could have told us it was a gift from the cat, and we'd have believed it!

Anonymous said...

This is a really cool interpretation of that pattern! Thanks so much for including your design changes over the original pattern - it's really easy to visualise your changes this way!

Summerset said...

A very hot top - perfect for salsa.

Kitty Couture said...

Sexy, sexy top! It is nice to sew something like that once in a while, isn't it? You look absolutely beautiful in it! Big hugs

Myra said...

What a cool interpretaion of the top. You carry it off well. I agree with an earlier post. I would have sold it, too & made another.

laura said...

I'm sooo glad you're back and I'm really looking forward to seeing all of your new projects. I too would have sold that top and then made another one. Wow! It looks great.

Sigrid said...

o la la, that's a sexy top. You have perfect figure for this. great work in changing the pattern to your ideas.

Adrienne said...

That top is SOOO hot!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous top.

Anonymous said...

OH my Gosh, you look fabulous!!! But then you always do :) You were very creative with your pattern changes. A top like this would be perfect for my college age daughter. However, she and her friends are very adverse to going braless. I think I would do something like line the front piece and put bra cups in. Gigi Lewis has a tutorial on her blog. She did this for a Hot Patterns halter dress I think and it looked great. Welcome back, Laura. You have been missed! Susan C

Sandy said...

All I can say is SEXY! It looks great.

Birgitte said...

Fabulous top, and you sure can carry it off! And welcome back :))

Anonymous said...

I took the liberty to award you a prize - go and grab it :-)

toy said...

woo hoo, what a sexy back that top has,, and your have, lol
looks really good

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

That is an amazing top and I'm glad that you are back! I think sometimes you just need a break from everything so you can be revived!!!

Can't wait to see the rest of the goodies!

Anonymous said...

Welcome back Laura! I see you had a great time with dancing and everything! Waw 100 Euros?! It is totally worth that much. I liked the original design in the magazine, but I think your is better! You took it to the next level, I think it is very sexy without being revealing.

Vicki said...

Welcome back..and what a great top! Very clever.

Tany said...

WOW!! This one is a show stopper! You look absolutely terrific in this top! Very sexy!!

Anonymous said...

Ooooh Cute. It looks great on you.

BCN - UNIQUE designer patterns said...

Laura .- I think at seeing this blouse can only say: "........ uffff .... chica, chica, boom ...." (with music of course). you enjoy the shirt and dancing.

Bruna Cristina said...

I love creating and sewing!
I loved your blog !!!!!
I am following!
kisses from Brazil

http://munamo.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

What a great dress! Love the color and the detail of the black stitching. Thanks for always giving pics.
African Fabrics | African Wax Print

Clipping Path said...


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